Elastic-fluid turbine



ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE Filed oct. 1,1. 192;

5 Sheets-5111261.l 2

v l M'IORNEYS-v Nov. 17, 1925-v ELASTIC FLUID TURBTNE F11/ed ooi. 11. 192s WHELLER e' Patented '11. 1925. 1.561.811' UNYTEDSTATES PATENT omen,

' JOHN WILLIAM WIIELLER, or nLIzAisnTH, NEW InnsnY, 'AssIGNon To L. I. Wmo` MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or NEW YORK. u

ELASTIC-FLUID ITURBIN,

Application led October 11, 1923. Serial No. 667,802.

To all whom. z't m//iy/ concern: angularly, laterally, and radially, and that" Be it known that I, JOHN WILLIAM WHEnthey be substantially equally spaced about Lnn, a citizen of the United States, residing the circumference of the wheel. The at 49 Sayre Street, Elizabeth, in the countyr buckets are sometimes set square with the of Union, State of New Jersey, have invented Wheel, that is, with the plane through their 60 certain new, and useful Improvements in tips parallel withthe axis'of rotation of the Elastic-Fluid Turbines; and-I do hereby de- Wheel, and sometimes, in order lthat the i clare the following to be a `fullclear, and steam may act to greater advantgellpol exact description of the invention, such as the buckets, they are so s'et that 'thls plane will enable Iothers-"skilled in the art toy which .makes a relatively small angle with the axis 65 it appertains to make and use the same. of rotation. This is what is meant by angu- This invention relates to the construction lar alignments. `When th'eblades are in of turbines, particularly -elastic fluid turalignment laterally, they are 'disposed vin the bines, and lhas for its Object the provision of s ame plane transverseto the axis of rotai 4an improved turbine and method' and aption. Improper `alignment of the buckets in 70 paratus for making` the same. y each of these various respects isfl'iable to Elastic fluid tu binesare usually provided affect the efficiency or mechanical balance of with buckets or b adcs which are acted upon lthe turbine to a greater or lessl extent. For [by the Vworking fluid to drive the turbines. these Same reasons it is also ofimportance Some of these buckets are mounted upon that the buckets themselves be made with a 75 Wheels forming the rotor of the turbine, and high degree of accuracy so that all of the others are mounted in stationary position buckets are identical with each other asnearwithin the turbine casino. AIn the following ly as possible in size and shape. discussion turbine wheel will be. specifical.- It is further of great importance that the ly referred to, although it is to be undermaterial of which the buckets are made be 80 stood *that the invention contemplates, as of a character to eiectively resist the action, well,.the mounting of the buckets upon vother 0f the steam. Hard drawn nickel steel is supporting structures. Well adapted for this purpose, b-ut as far as The most common form of turbine wheel I am aware, has not been employed hereto- 3" comprises a circular disc or body of 'suitable fore in turbines having cast-in buckets. S5 metal, for example steel or bronze, having .In the built-up type of turbines these cononel or more rows of buckets equally spaced dltions are quite well satisfied. In the presabout its periphery. The buckets are seent invention they are more nearly attained cured to the wheel body in various ways. In 1n a cust-1n type of turbine wheel than here` many instances the buckets are secured to tOfOre. l p

the body of the wheel by some mechanical In Patent N0. 907,212 granted to .L. J. connection1 such 'as a groove in thc Surface Wing on December 22, 1908, there is shown of the disc adapted to receive appropriately a method and apparatus for making cast `vformed feet on the buckets. In othertypesv turbine Wheels. In that patent a pattern 40* of turbine Wheels, the buckets or blades are is Shown in combination with a lfollow- 95' positioned in a mold, for casting the disc or lOOaId fOI' POStiOIlne' the turbine buckets body of the wheel, with their ends project,- 1n the mold. The wheel pattern has a pluing into the -matrix of the mold so that the rality of spaced recesses about its circumfer- -molten metal may be poured about the ends ence and the follow-board has a Series 0f of-ftheblades "to formthe cast Wheel bodyV cooperating equally spaced pins projecting 100 reeted.

to. Support them, In somo cases from lts surface. The buckets are positheliuckets are held-by the sand ofthe mold tioned by inserting their shanks in the re- Aitselffand in othenlcases the buckets are held oesses in the pattern and by inserting .their 'by av previouslydiormed baked core.' It\is opposite ends between adjacent pins. In

to the construction 'of this type of turbine that disclosure, however, drop-forgedpbuck 105 *i'wheelfthat this invention is particularly'diets were contemplated in order to form a 1 sui-table shankV to be received within the In making any turbine wheel it is of great recesses. Dropforging is a relatively inimportance that the buckets .be positioned on accurate'process and the dimensions of these thefinished wheel in l accurate alignment buckets varied considerably so that in many 110 ever,

,pulled out when the sand cases the tit et the Shanks was loose. i

'lurbine wheels constructed in accordance with that patent have proven successful and operative turbines constructed in accordance with the present invention are more eicient because the buckets are more accurately made and more accurately positioned on the finished wheel. lhey are more durable because the buckets are made trom hard drawn nickel i steel. cause the pattern employed in the present invention edectively excludes sand from entering between the tails' ot the buckets andv the pattern into The exclusion of the sand vkeeps the tails of the buckets from binding in, the pattern, and the pattern is the mold. Buckets loosely mounted inthe finished wheel, as occasionally were found when using the wing method, on account of the presence ot "sand in the mold, are

in the recesses 4never found in the practice ot' the present invention. Moreover, the present pattern holds the buckets tirmly against movement in the radial direction, so that they are not is compacted between them during the making ot the'mold. This was a source of annoyance in the older method. rthe present pattern, moreover, so engages the buckets as to hold them accurately in any angular position desired' Hence, the buckets may be cast straight, or, by slightly modifying the pattern, at any desired angle. y

ln accordance with the present invention l, rst of all, provide an accurately constructed bucket. rl`his l prefer to accomplish by cuttingfrom a strip oitl material 'previously formed to an appropriate bucket cross-section, a piece ot appropriate length for a bucket, and cutting a pair ot oppositely disposed notches one in each side edge ot this piece near one end thereof, each notch having; va positioning bottom wall with .one side u'alljntersecting the bottom at less than a right angle. These notches term a tail portion comprising a pair ot flaring tins joined to the body ofthe bucket by a shank having' accurately formed taces. rllhese tacesand the other two walls ot' the notches provide means tor engaging the buckets to hold them with'great accuracy in the proper position while the mold is being made. Buckets may be made in this manner trom hard drawn nickel steel stock. Y

l next provide a device' or apparatus for assisting; the making ot' molds tor this apparatus in some cases taking the form ot a pattern, as when making a wheel having a single row of buckets, and in other cases taking the `torni ot'a core box, 'as in the molding of a kwheel having a plurality ot rows ot' buckets. l

in commercial practice. How-,

\ buckets may be inserted A better mold is produced bethe matrix ot the mold.

easier to removel tromy ltormed positioned surfaces,

turbines,

This device is so constructed that it holds the buckets above described properly dis-y posed around its periphery, and maintains them accurately in angular, lateral, and radial alignment, and equally spaced, while the mold or core is being made. Yet the in the apparatus vbetore commencing to make the mold, or core,

and thev apparatus withdrawn from the,`

buckets when the mold or core is completed, with extraordinary facility. vBy appropriately engaging the walls oit thefnotches 1n vthe buckets, not only are the buckets `accurately positioned, but also particles ot' sand are prevented from enteringfthe matrix adjacent Vthe tails and causing loose buckets in the finished wheel.

'Brieliy stated, the invention resides in an improved method of casting turbines .which includesfproviding a bucket having a daring tail' portion with one or more accurately and positioning the bucket in the sand of the mold while the mold is being made by supporting means having positioningr surfaces ladapted to coact with those on the tails of the buckets.

l the practice of my invention a mold is made having lall of thewalls et its matrix or" the same :materialv throughout, that is` either of sand alone. or ot sand and. core material. asin the best foundry practice, so' that all parts of the wheel will cool as nearly as possible at the same rate and leave stresses ot minimum value in the finished casting. The invention, however, also provides tor so supporting the buckets in such a mold that they may be drawn inwardly to accommodate the shrinkage ot the metal ot the body of the wheel during cooling', and for so positioning the buckets that they will be accurately and securely mounted in the finished. turbine wheel. or other supporting structure.

My invention further contemplates certain novel features which will be understood -trom the following description et two ernbodiments of the invention which are illustrated, by way of example inl 'the accompanyingidrawings. `Vlhese drawingsn however, are intended to assist the description ot' the vinvention and not to dene the limits thereof.

ln these drawings: l y

Figs. l to 6, inclusive, are various views illustrating the construction jot the intermediate member of thel patterntor castina a turbine wheel having' a 'singl'efrow of buck ets;

Fig. 7 is a tragmentany'vlew oiithe lower stationary outer member or ring olfthis pattern;

Fig. 8 is a view in cross section taken on line ll-ll ont "ll-ign 7;

Figs. 9 and l0 are views similar to Figs. 7 and 8, respectively.v ot the upper and removable outer member 'oit the pattern;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentarycross section-of` the intermediate member of the p'attern'land y the lower` ring,.this cross section beingv taken on line 11-1-1 of Fig. 7,to show the means of securingthese two members together;

Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively a rear view and aside View of my improved turbine bucket; l v' Fig. 14 is a view in cross section taken online 14-14 ofFig. 13 through the lshank of the tail portion of the bucket;

Fig. 15is a view of the improved pattern with a series of four buckets inserted. the upper removablering not yet having been put in place; l i

Fig. 16 is a View in cross section taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is aview in cross section also taken on-line 16-16 of Fig. 15, but with the addition of the upper removable ring, and showing a bucket in position in the pattern as it is held during the making of the mold:

Figs. 18. 19, and 2O are fragmentary views of the finished cast turbine wheel. Fig. 18 being a central section on line 18-18 of Fig. 149, Fig. 19 being a section on line 19-19 of F ig. 18, and Fig. 20 being a development of the surface of the wheel with the outer binding strip removed to show the angular position offthe buckets:

-Figs 21 to 25.'inclusive. illustrate.l various steps in the making of the mold Afor casting a turbine wheel having a single row of buckets;

Figs. 26 to 33, inclusive. relate tothe casting of a turbine wheel having two rows of buckets. Figs. 26 and 27 illustrate the making of the sand mold. Figs. 28 and 29 are two sectional views of the core box for thesecond row of buckets. Fig. 30 is a similar view of the core box for the first row of buckets. Fig. 31 is a View of the completed lmold with the previously formed cores iuscrlcd therein.

Fw. 32 1s au enlarged View taken on line 32-32 of Fig. 33 to show the manner in vwhich the shanks of the tail portions are engaged bv the lateral slots in the Vintermediate memb r of the core box to hold the bucket in an angular' position, and Fig. 33 is an venlarged View of the cross section .Showing the relation of the parts of the core boX with a bucket clamped in position between them.

Referring first to Figs. 12'. 13, and 14 lof these drawings. there-is here shown a turbine bucket 4() made in accordance with mv invention. This bucketis of usual form in cross section, as may be seen in Fig. 14. and it comprises a main or working portion 4l and a-tail portion 42. The tai-l portion is made by cutting a pair of notches 43 in the opposite side edges of the bucket. each of these notches preferably having a position.;

ing bottom wall 44 with one sidewall 45" intersectingthe bottom wall `at less than a-- ing.

rightangle; and the third wall 46 of the portion `of the bucket, is substantially at notch',v preferably the wall adjacent the main right angles to the bott-om of the wall 44 to form ay shoulder. The cutting of these notches 43 leaves the ytail portion extending from the bucket which consists of a pair of flaring fins 47 joined to the bottom of the bucket by means of shank 48.

This shank 48 is, in general, square in 75 cross section, as may be seen from Fig. 14,V but, in fact, is bounded by the two preferably lat positioning surfaces 44, the concave Y front surface 49, and the convex rear surface 50, these last two surfaces,` being portions ofthe previously formed boundaries of the bucket itself. The bucket is also provided with a lug 51 projecting from the end opposite the tail portion, the purpose of which will appear later.

The slots 43 may be cut in any waydesired, the important point being to form the positioning surfaces 44 of the tail shank accurately. I have found that these notches may be cut, the lugs 51 formed, and the bucket itselfcut off at proper length from a strip-of material previously formed to appropriate bucket cross section, by means of an appropriately constructed punch and die. e configuration of the die is substantially that of Fig. 12, and' it is curved on its upper surface to conform with the rear face of the section of bucket material which is the upper-surface in Fig. 14. The punch is so constructed as to mate with this die and its y working surface is curved to conform to the front surface of the section of bucket materialwhich is the lower surface in Fig. 14. When a strip of bucket material is laid in this cradle-shaped die and the punch caused to move downward, a portion of the strip of bucket material is carried through the die. leaving the cut-out portions corresponding with theslots 43. and the corners on each sifde of lug 51., upon the upper surface thereo y In this manner a bucket may be formed having positioning surfaces on 'the tail portion formed Awith a high degree of accuracy which will assist greatly in the casting of a turbine wheel with the buckets accurately positioned in its periphery. The degree of -accuracy obtained by this method of making a turbine bucket is quite in contrast to the crudely formed bucket made by drop-forg- Furthermore, in this method it is entirely feasible to utilize as the stock from .which the buckets are punched, a material whichl willv be to a, high degreeresistant to the erosive action of the impinging jet of steam. One/of the best known materials for purpose is nickel steel, especially hai/d drawn nickel-steel, and although this material is extremely hard and tough, the bucket stock can be pre-formed by the cold drawthis will be described later.

ing process to the. cross section desired, and

then Iliade into buckets in accordance with ing 'an undueV -amount'of labor or power.

We winnowiconsider the noveldevice for y assisting thefinaking of the mold` for-casting l.main?ipa ttern."l The-.upper ring 63 (Flgs. 9.

` and 10) which' is removable,

the turbinewheels, particularly the form of this device which comprises a pattern adapted to receive and retain the above lmentioned turbine bucketsY and accurately position them f p in the mold. Anotherform which this device may assume, namely that of a core box,

larly to Figs. 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, which villustrate A fragment of a member so formed is shown in Fig. 2.- the the rim being original shape of the outsidev of indicated in dotted lines. A

series of equally spaced holes 53 is net' t e.:

drilled from face to face of the rim,

' number. of these holes corresponding to the number of buckets to be mounted uponthe wheel. llavirigy done this. the' portions 54' within the dotted lines of Fig. 2 are 'machined from the corners'of the rim, leaving sloping faces 55.4 whichintersect the pre-v viously drilled holes 53, and to leave an annular rib 56 of about thethickness of the -width of the shank 48 of the buckets. Fig.l 1

is a side view of the segment of thewheel shown in Fig. 2 after this machining operation has been completed, and Fig. 3 is an edgewise view corresponding to Fig. .1, and shows thel curved intersections of the surfaces 55 with the holes 53.

Slots 57 are now milled through laterally of the rim of the wheel to intersect the holes 53 and form thegroughly L-shapedopenings indicated in Fig. 4. This completes the machining of the intermediate member of the which have been cut in the rim,

of ,the slots pattern and the appearance as seen from the edge of the wheel, is shown in Fig. 6.

From Fig. 5 which isa sectional view taken through the center of one of the slots 57, it may be seen thatthe shape of these slots corresponds to that of` the tails 42 of the "buckets, so that a bucket may be inserted in leach of these slots, its shank fitting rather closely. say with about two one thousandths of an inch clearance, between the walls 58 and 59 thereof, and the flaring fins of the tailsextending into the toe portion 60.

Upper and lower rings are now made which are adapted to co-act with the inter-v mediate pattern member 52 to hold the buckets within the slots 57. The lower ring 61 (Figs. 7 8, and 11) is permanently secured to thejntermediate pattern member 52 in Referring particuvarious steps 1n the making of the intermediate member of any suitable manner, such as by'means ofy screws 62 passing atintervals through the i rinsed appa@ ine the rib -two members the intermediate pattern member and the lower ring,

respects to lower lrin 61, except that rovision is madev vf o'r securing it to the 1ntermediate pattern member;y These two rings are adapted tol cooperate with the in vbuckets; within the slots 5'( theseringsare veach provided with a wedge-shaped-annu- -lar portion or lip 64, which is adapted to enter the slots 44. of the buckets, and, by

suitable engagement with the. 'wallsthereof vand'by coacting with the sloping surfaces 55 of the intermediate pattern member, se i i curely retain the buckets Vaccurately-positioned upon the rim of the wheel.l

.56 as shown is similar in all "In' 15 of the drawingsja portion of.

the main I'i'attern member,

that is, the inter- 'i mediate memberandfthe lower ring, is shownl i' with a plurality Ofbucketsinsertedtlierein.-

tion.` A cross section in front of-oneof' theseY buckets isi-shown in Fig. 16'. Inthis view it may be seen that the slots 57 serve' to equally space the turbine blades and. that the surfaces 58 and 59 of these slots actto vassist in` holding the blades so that the axes of theblades project radially from the-surf face of vthewheel. When, however, the upper removable ring63 is placed in position itwill serve .to clamp "the'tails of the'bucketst lagainst the lower ring 61 (Fig. 17),. the

slopingsurfaces -of-these rings co-acting with thesurfaces'45 of thel bucket tails which vintersect the positioning bottom walls 44 `of 1 the bucket slots at less thana right angle. .The ends of the wedge-shapedportionsor lips may also engage the positioning ysurfaces y44,. althou'gli'- in some instances, it is desirable to leaveaslightclearance. at .these points.l They .cylindrical surfaces of thev wedge-shaped portions engage-{the-shoulders 46' formed by the slots in thebuckets to-'ensure that the bucketsproject-radially and of these surfaces results in a clamping of thetailofl the .bucket to hold it accurately-,in position.v Nevertheless.

the co-action of-1 all by simply removing the upper ring 61,'- each.

of the buckets may matrix of the' mold tobe' made. A

The method` by vWhichtliis patte ""s utilized to make va'mold forfcasting a' turbine be easily' lifted from"l its slot if desired/The overlapping of `these surfaces assists` in excludinggsand Vfrom'ftheA 25 wheel will presently-be described-,but before taking this up reference is madeto Figs. 18, Y

iti-f Whenl thus xassembled,ywill be l called the of thefshed product. In body of the wheel 65 has ferentially of the IWheel and effectively preventing any displacement `shrouding band 66 is secured to the outer pass through holes in .the

' its periphery,

of the bucket. A ends of the buckets by the'lug's 5l which V band and are riveted overon the band fas indicated at 67.

.The method of preparing a mold for the casting yof .such a turbine Wheel is'illustrated in.Figs.'21 to 25., inclusive. The main pattern is first laid upon a follow-board 68 providedwith a circular recess 69 adapted to receive the lower ring of the pattern within it. The upper removable ring 63 has -not 'been placed 1n position. The buckets 40 are vnow dropped into the slots 57 of the main pattern so that they project radially from the two diagonally opposite buckets-being Shown in the figures. The depth of the recess 69 is such that 'the buckets. will be supported level by their side' 'edges whichrest on the surface of the followboard, so as to facilitate the placing of the thel proj ectin over, that is, follow-board 68 is lifted olf so that the parts upper ring 63 in 'position` The upper ring 63 is their placed upon the pattern and the buckets are properl held inthe position desired,fthat is, equa y spaced andY in accurate alignment angularly, laterally, and radially'.

ring of vsand 70 (Fig. 22) is then compactedwith the fingers around and between ends of the buckets and sloped off at 71, as s own. This operation is greatly facilitated because of the fact lthat the buckets are firmly 'held against radial displacement by the engagement of the tail porti-ons within the slots of the pattern and a great'deal of time and annoyance is avoided. Adistinct advantage exists here over the apparatus and method of the Wing patent above mentioned, where there vwas no provision against the buckets, pulling out of the pattern which has causeda great deal of trouble and loss of time in making these molds. Y

The entire surface 72 of the pattern in'- cluding the compacted lsand is now sprinkled with parting sand, and the cope 73 `of the molding flask is placed upon the followboard and filled with sand 74 which is tamped in place in the ordinary mannen'fa gate indicated diagrammatically at 7be'- ing formed also in the usual way. The arrangement of the parts at this stage is indicated in Fig. 22.

The cope and follow-board are next rolled turned upside down, and the are disposed as shown in the lower half of Fig. 23. The surface 7o of the pattern is now exposed and is first sprinkled with parting sand,y then the drag 77 is placed on top of the cope, and sand 78 is filled in and tamped, asis customary. vThe mold is sep-arable along two arting surfaces,

ace 76.

namely surface 72 and sur It -now remains to remove the pattern' from the mold.

out difficulty. Thering 63 is shown removed in Fig. l24; and the cope has been re placed upon the drag preparatory to removing the main pattern. The main pattern cannot be removed with the flask in the position shown Ain Fig'. 24, because itis locked in bythe'tails of thebuckets. It is therefore necessary to again roll over the ask toithe position shown in Fig. 25, and remove the drag, the mold this time separating along surface 76 of the pattern and the fiat surfaceof the 'compacted sand. The main pattern, including the lower ring 6l, may now be withdrawn vertically, the tails of the buckets slidingplaterally in the slots 57. This leaves the vniain portions 41 of the buckets embedded in they sand of the mold with their tail portions 42 extending .within the matrix 79 of the mold so that poured in through will flow into'all when the molten metal is the gate 75, the metal 'parts ofthe matrlx and surround the tails.

the mold, andin the right-hand halfv of. pattern has been com-*I the ligure, the entire pletely removed.l

Referring again to Fig. 20 of the accom--v panying draw1I 1gs,`the buckets 40 are here shown as being set square in the wheel, that .the cope is carel,The removable ring by the turning over of the mold, and may now be removed With- :.In F ig.I 25 the left-hand half e t is, a line through their tips is parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel. It is sometimes desirable to throw this line olf slightly sothat it will make an angle of, for example, from 3 to 5 with the axis of rotation. If it is desired to set the buckets at such an angle with. the axis, it is only necessary to drill the holes 53 and to mill the slots 57 (Figs. l, 4, and 6) at the de-4 sired angle, and this will'cause the buckets to be properly held and positioned in the pattern, further details of which will beA described in connection with the making of a casting of a turbine wheel having two 'rows ofibuckets, which will now be de- 'of the wheel as well as serving (rigs. 2s, 29, 'and so). The becket-positionin members of the core box correspond with t e three members of the pattern above vdescribed vexcept that, as they do not perform the function of a pattern for the body substantially rectangular in shape 1n which rin the ,slots in member the core may be molded in a well-known.

manner. The inner boundary of this annular recess-'is made 'up of the members for clampin the turbine buckets. These comprise 'aA wer rin 83 which corresponds to lower ring 61- of t e pattern, an intermediate 84 which corresponds to the interme' iate member. of the pattern, and an upper removable ring 85 whichv correspondsy to the upper removable ring '63 of the pat-l tern. For convenience, a number of thumb screws-86 are provided for clamping the upper ring in position. l

' In making a coreby the aid of thiscore box, the lremovablering v8 5 is taken'o" of the box and the buckets inserted in the slots around `the periphery ofthe memberv 84. -jIt bucketsl With their Vmatrix of the mold so"that when it is is convenient to place temporary support in blocks, one ofwhich is indicated at-87f 1g. 28) to screwed 'down by the thumb screws. After thishas been done, the blocks 87 Vare removed and-the core material isfput into the recess 82'aud worked around and between the outer ends of the buckets'. upper surfaceis smoothed, olf, the ring 85 is removed, a roll-over plate is placedyupon thetop of the core box 81, and the whole turned over. liftedv away fromv the core, and in'doing this 84w11 allow @heraus ofthe lbuckets to lslide out of them, leaiiing the buckets firmly embedded 'in' the core.

In a turbine wheel having two rows of buckets, it is necessary that the radial-center of the working portions of 'the buckets in the two rows shall be'substantially in alignment, and inasmuch as the buckets in the v second row are longer than those.. in the first, it ,is necessary that theudiametengof the core which supports the second rovy of buckets be somewhat less than the diameterr of the core for the first row of buckets.

Therefore, it is necessary to lmake a sepas rate corebox for the first row of buckets,

land such a core box is illustrated in Fig. 30-

andl is constructed yinthe same manner'as the boxes illustrated inFigs. 28 and 29, ex-V cept that it may be desirable to modify the angular position at which rthe 'buckets are to clamp the g' dif- ` leaving the matrix is thenfpl'aced in this hold up the ends ofthe bucketsI until all of the buckets have been put slots andthe upper ring set in placev and in vthe After the The core box is then carefully lright angle,

The core is molded in exactly the same way. After having made the oores'for the 'two rows of buckets, them is made. l In making this mold, a pattern is 'utilized which will properly form the matrix in accordance with the desired contour for the body 'of the wheel, and having a'large rim portion whichwill form a vmatrix adapted v to receive the two cores superimposed one upon the other.

In making such a mold, 'a suitable'pattern `88 with a cope surrounding it is placed upon a roll-over'- plate-89 and sand 9() is thrown in andtamped down. The whole is then rolled over to the position `shown in the lower halfI of Fig. 27, a drag is put on topof the cope, and sand is filled in and tamped down to formthe opposite side of the matrix. ,A gate 91 is cut in the sand by which to pour the casting. The drag is then removed from the cope'and the pattern'v88 carefully taken out of the sand, corresponding thereto. the first row of buckets matrix andon to-p'of this'the second core 93 holding the second row of buckets, The arrangement of these cores 92 and y93 is shown in Fig. V31,`where it'wil'l be seen that the cores hold the tails projecting into the The core 92 holding Ipoured, th'e buckets vwill be embedded in the :rim of they Wheel.

particularlyv in a to place It 'may be desirable, wheel havingv two .rows of buckets,

the mold for receiving I the buckets inthe first row at afsmaller angle with the Q tion'ed aboye` I have found' that this can be readily', accomplished by cutting the slots iutheintermediate member 84 ofthe core box"A 8,1 .forV the first bucket row, shown in Fig. -130, spending vthat the bucket shall be mounted in the at an angle substantially correto the angle'at which it is desired axis `of., rotation, vas men' finished Wheel. The action ofthe 'co-acting clamping sur-faces when the buckets are jheld'at an angle' in this manner is illustrated in Figs.v 32 and 33, Awhere the clamping members of core box 81( are drawn to 4an enlarged scale and hold between them a turbine bucket exactly similar to the one illustrated in Figs. 12, 13,'l and 14.

It' will be remembered that the shank -48 of the bucket 'tail is bounded by the/,two positioning surfaces 44 wlich are preferably fiat and formed whenthe notches 43 arepunched out, and by the concavesurface 49 andthe convex surface 50. Therefore, the two flatfaces 44 intersect the concave surface' 49 at an angle which is less than a` and lin sectional View, form a pair of cusps which are indicated at 94 in Fig. 32. I-Ience, when a bucket 40 .is inserted 1n a slot in intermediate member 84 iwhich; has been cut therein at an angle, for

example,' of 39, the cusps v94 co-act with the front surface 95 of this slot, and the conveX surface l50 coacts with the rear surface 96 of the slot. This results in a turning of the bucket', through an angle of'substantially 3o. -A clearance is provided along Athe lines r97 of the lower member 83 (Fig. 33) so that the flaring tail lins 47 of the vbuckets Will not bind` against them because of the angular position of the bucket. The lower front corner 98 of the tail shank, therefore, rests upon the upper surface of the Wedge-shaped portionor lip of ring 88 and when the removable Iing 82 is put in position, the lower edge 99 of 'its Wedge-shaped portion engages the corner 100 of theshank which` projects abovethe side edge of the rib 101. The slopingsurface 102 of removable ring 82 is also allowed to co-act with the surfacesv of the tail portion of the bucket, but a clearv ance is provided so that the tip 103 ofthe upl of this invention per fiaringtailfin will notbe engaged by the member 82. In this Way the angularly cut slots in the rib 101 of member 84 enga e the shank ofthe bucket and accurately hol it at the pr`oper angle. The tilted shank thus presents two diagonally opposed corners 98 molds for elastic and 100 so that they may be grippedfby :the edges ofthe clamping rings 82"and 83 and the wedge-shaped portion or. lip of the removable ring 82 on y is 'relied upon to align the bucket radially.

Even though the slots in the intermediate member 84 are cut at a relatively small angle, the buckets may be readily dropped into place in these slots and the clamping ring 82 inserted and removed Without'diffculty. Also, When the core material has been placed in the Acore box and the molded core is ready to be removed therefrom, the angularity ot' the slots in the interme viate` member, which serve to position the'l will not hinder from the core because of the curvatureof 'the surfaces 49 and 50 of the tail Shanks: By employing the method' andapparatus Wheels, a Wheel is produced Whichin many respects is superior to the cast-inturbine Wheels heretofore made. The use of acold drawn stock which is very readily formed to accurate crossl section,

this stock provides a bucket which isfmade with great accuracy from exceptionally hard and serviceable material, The provision of the pattern, or core'bo'xvas the case may be, provided `With the intermediate member with equally spaced slots for spacingthe buckets, and the Wedge-shaped co-acting clamping members for engaging the accurately cut surfaces of the tail portion, ensures that the bucket will be held accurately in position,

made.

for the casting .of turbiney and the formation of the ltailportion by the simpleope'rationof cutting a. pair of notches in a -piecehofL Aeach tail portion,

'buckets in position Whether in the sandl of the mold, or in the sand of the4 core. Because of the close coaction between the surfaces of the tail'por tions of the buckets and the pattern, and because' of the overlapping of these portions, substantiallyv all .of the loose sand which tends to ivork into the mold .will be excluded so that all danger of loose buckets is obviated. Furthermore, by this invention a castin -type of turbine Wheel having buckets of hard dra-wn nickel steelmay be readily produced.

I claim: 1, y

1. A device for assisting the making of molds forelastic fluid turbines having castin buckets comprising, amain portion having radial slots in its periphery each adapted to receive the tail portion of a bucket andA being, open at one side* vfor the insertion and removal of thebuckets, and a removable ring cooperating with the side 'of the main portionvadjacent the open sides of the slots and havinga projecting lip ctiacting with a notch in each'l bucket to maintain the buckets accurately in position and against dis,- placement lfrom said slots being made.

While the yis `H 2. A device for assisting the makingrl of.

i 1iuid tiirbines-l1aving cast'- 1n buckets comprising, an intermediate-member and "two outer members cooperating therewith-,1 the intermediate member having I' a series ofspaced slots in its periphery each adaptedto receive the tail vof a bucket, and each outermember having a Wedge-sha ed portion adapted to.v co-act with we geshap'ed vnotches in,the tails of buckets inserted in said slots to hold the buckets accurately imposition While` the mold is being device for assisting the making of "molds for elastic liuid turbineshaving castkets the lifting off ofthe core bo'z'r -a pair of rings, one of Which is removable,

cooperating With the 'sides of the intermediate member adjacent the open sides of thc slots, each ring having a projecting lip, one face of Which cooperates With the shoulder formed by the outer face'iof the notch in and the opposite face of which converges With respect to the first face to co-act with a sloping vwall of the notch, whereby to accurately maintain the and against displacement While thc mold -is being made.

, 4. A device for assisting the making of molds forelastic fluid turbines having cast.-` in buckets comprising, an intermediate member having radial slots in its periphery the opposite faces of which are parallel and inclined at a relatively small angle to the side surfaces of the member, each slot being 4adapted to receivea bucket having a tail ing open at the side for the insertion and remove of the bucket, and a pair ot' rings, one ot which 1s removable, cooperating with the sides of the intermediate member adjacent opposite face to co-act notch, whereby to'accurately maintaln the the open sides of the slots, each ring haring a projecting lip one face oi' which cooperates with the shoulder formed by the outer ace of the notch in each bucket and the face of Which converges with respect to the first face to co-act with a sloping Wall of the notch, whereby to accurately maintain the buckets in position and against displacement While the mold is being made.

5. A. device for assisting the making ot' molds Jfor elastic fluid turbines having cast in buckets comprising, a main portion having radial slots in its periphery, the oppo' site faces of which arel paralleland inclined at va relatively small angle to the4 side 'surfaces of the device, each slot being adapted to receive abucket having atailjportion prof,

vided with a Wedge-shaped' notch and having a shank adapted to'beengaged by said inclined surface, said ,-stcts'alsobe'ing open at the side-for theinsegrftion and .removal of the buckets, and a 'removable' ring co-op- .erati'ngwith saidniain portion adjacent the open sides of ingl lip, one the shoulder formed'by the outer face of the notch in each bucket and theopposite tace of which converges with respect to the first with a sloping Wall ofthe the slots and having aproject tion adjacent the open face-ot' Which co-oper'ates with' molds for elastic Huid turbines having castin buckets comprising,` amailr portion having radial slots in its periphery, each adapted to receive a tail portion of the bucket, and being open at one side for the insertion and removal ot' `the buckets, and a removable ring cti-operating with the sides oi' the slots and having a Wedge-shaped annular lip for coacting with a Wedge-shaped notch in, the bucket to maintain the buckets accurately in side ot' the main porposition and against displacement' while the mold is being made.

7. A device for assisting the makingof Y molds for `velastic Huid turbines having castin buckets comprising, a main portion hav` ing radial slots in its periphery each adapted to receive a tail portion of the bucket and being open at one side for the insertion and removal of the buckets, said .main portion also'having a wedge-shaped annular lip for coacting with a wedgevshaped notch ina the bucket, and a removable ring cooperating with the side of the mainportion adjacent 4the open'side of the slots and having a sec- I ond wedge-shaped'annularlip 'for coacting with' a second wedge-shaped notch in the bucket, said`annu'lar 11i-ps cooperating withl the main portion of the device to maintain the buckets accurately inv position 'and 'against displacement while the mold v is being made. y

In testimony1 whereof I ture.

JoHN WiLLrAM WHELLER.

aiiiX-my sgna- 75,. 

